Nigeria Is More Safe Than America – Alaafin’s Culture Adviser

The cultural ambassador to the Alaafin of Oyo, Dr. Gomes Paula, a Portuguese,  in an exclusive interview with Naij.com spoke about why she opted for Nigeria as home, her work toward the preservation of the heritage of Oyo state, Sango, the Alaafin, the Nigerian media and other sundry issues.

Dr Gomes Paula during her coronation

Why did you opt for Oyo as a home?

As a young lady then I got curious by what I read about the Yoruba’s heritage and culture. It was a strong feeling in me that I said to myself that I must visit Nigeria to witness first hand if these things I read back in Portugal are real. That compelled me to come over to sight the strong heritage of the Yorubas.

How were you able to connect with the culture and heritage of the Yorubas?

I have always been interested in ancient cultures that are still alive. I studied history and linguistic. Back then in the university, I undertake the study of Greek and Egyptian’s cultures and heritages. Unfortunately, these cultures are dead. I read and heard about Yoruba’s culture and heritage. I became curious and interested in this culture.
I came to Yoruba land 22-year ago to ascertain if what I read on the pages of books were really true. That was how I came about the study of Yoruba’s culture.

So far, what can you say about the Yoruba’s culture?

Yoruba culture is still alive. When I say culture I mean the totality of the prevailing lifestyle of a given society. If I want to talk about culture more specifically, I focus on the heritage which comprises of the tangible and intangible culture. This  includes the spirituality as here religion is very superficial. So, the Yorubas are very known and respected for their spirituality. This makes me to be very curious of the spirituality angle of the culture of the Yoruba.

As a Portuguese were you not afraid about the idea of settling down in Nigeria given the negative perspective being propagated by some foreign media that Nigeria is full of crimes and other vices?
Well, the first time I came to Nigeria I was only a teenage. As a teenage you are always in a discovery mood which is devoid of fear. I just wanted to know if all that I read are true. Then I didn’t give a thought to danger or no danger. Back to the present, I think everywhere in the world is dangerous. If you pay attention to the news in America, there is more crimes there than in Nigeria. More people are being assassinated in America per day than in Nigeria.  So, it up to the Nigerian’s media to put the country in the proper perspective. What, I can say about Nigerians today is that they are good and lovable people. They embrace strangers with warm and open hands. I will like to focus on the Yoruba’s people because I don’t have experience with other tribes.
Actually, it is only the Nigeria media that can make the country to be good or bad in the eye of the outside world. People from other climes listen only to the bad news and don’t get the opportunity to see how large Nigeria is. So, Nigeria is like every other country, I don’t see any danger here. I feel secure and happy here.

Alaafin Of Oyo blessing Dr Gomes Paula

If you have an opportunity to come to Nigeria would still make that trip?

Yes! I will come again and again. You see, life is made of different norms and mentality. It’s good to travel and meet with people from other places. It a way of learning and most importantly, we are all humans. Nobody is bad, nobody is good! So, I urge everybody to come and see Nigeria. If you go to America, it is dangerous as well because you must learn how to shoot gun. If you don’t learn you may become the easy prey of bad people. In a nutshell, everywhere is dangerous and everywhere is safe depending on your attitude and worldview. You only must know how to take care of yourself hence I advise people to come and see for themselves.

How did meet his Royal Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiola Adeyemi lll?

Like I said, I have strong interest in the heritage and culture here. What I have learnt in history is that the Alaafin is the head of the Yoruba kingdom and I was just curious about everything because what you learn outside is that what the Yoruba speaks today is the Oyo’s Yoruba. Most of the crafts and technology came from Oyo and I read a lot about the Oyo Empire and especially about Sango and Yoruba spirituality like I earlier said. So, the house of Sango is Oyo and Alaafin is Sango. I came to Oyo because of the heriage. It is very strong town and I decided that I needed to see His Royal Majesty. I talked to Sango devotees and some close aides of the Alaafin, that was how I was about to connect with Oba Adeyemi. I first meet with him in 2011. I told him that he is traditional ruler and Nigeria is currently practicing democratic system of government, that outside Nigeria some people know about the Alaafin and about his culture. That there about 40 countries in the world where they follow the traditional belief of the Yorubas especially Sango. I specifically let him know that Nigeria today is not operating a  monarchical system of government. I let him if traditional rulers refuse to preserve the heritage and culture of their domain, one day there might not be a need for a traditional ruler. Like in Euro, there are few traditional rulers because democratic system of government is being practice there. Being the Alaafin and also the head of the Yorubas from what I learnt in the history, he has to preserve his heritage. He has to preserve what belong to his forefathers. Oba Adeymi was surprised by what I was saying and invited me to be his cultural ambassador. From then I was granted the permission to research into the history and culture of the Oyo. I was amazed by my findings.

The Alaafin ensure that the heritages are being preserved. If you go to the palace today, you will see the intangible heritages in display, you will see the worshippers, the dancers and dramatists. The culture is still alive. So, whatever you believe in must be respected because every country in the world has an explanation on how the universe was created. There a lot of religions in the world, so the Yoruba has its own religion. So why not preserve it? Why not give respect to it? Don’t make spite of the heritage. That is the reason why I do what I do.

You said that the heritage of the Oyo Empire is still alive, can you list these heritages for the benefit of our readers.

Heritages are divided into two. We have the tangible heritages which are the material heritages. For  instance, in Oyo town the palace is the ancient monument, there are ancient shrines in Oyo that are 200-year old. Like the Obatala and Sango shrines. These heritages are still in existence in its original form. So, if you change it into any other forms it no more a heritage. Like if you go to my country (Portugal), you will see our heritages, like the palaces and some other monuments. It was built on stones and it about 1000-years old.
Then the intangible heritage, like the way of worship here and Sango festival. All the ancient festivals in Oyo have purpose, like the festival of the dry season and that raining season. It all served its own purpose. When you go to Egypt, you will see the pyramid, which is a dead heritage because the people there no longer practice it.

Why did you opt for Nigeria as a place of abode instead of Portugal?

Passion! It is because I love what I am doing and it is a lifelong journey. I’m working alongside the Alaafin and the different communities in Oyo state to preserve the culture and heritage here. I’m just doing what I like because if  not, it would be very difficult for me.